The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-03
A WoMAN's FREAKS.
IL She Kleptomaniac or n Chronic
shoplifter.

There has been much newspaper
space devoted to the freaks OF Flor'
Trumbull during the past twenty
months says The Detroit Free PreSS'
She has been subjected to many examin'
atoms in the police court for shoplifting
by the authorities of justice, and was
once convicted and served time for thai
crime. She has repeatedly been detect
ed in the act of stealing goods from the
counters of retail dry-goods establish
mcnts in this and other cities. Mrs.
Trumbulrs habit has been to walk into
a dry goods establishment, ask to be
shown articles. and while the
clerk was engaged in search OF the
goods she would conceal what ever took
her fancy under her garments. Occas.
ionally she would be so successful that
the clerk who waited upon her would
only suspect that she had been sneak
theiving. At other times the clerk
would be morally certain that she had
taken goods surreptitiously from the APP
pearance of her cloak when she left the
store. On one or two occasions 1t trans.
pircd that Mrs. Trumbull was detected
in the maner of the man who attempted
to leave grocery store in southern
town with the tail of n Goldfish protrud
ing from under his coat On one OF
these occasions Mrs. Trumbull escaped
through the sympathy of the jury, and
on another she was forced to undergo
Imprisonment for her folly. But re-
Gently she has been complained of to the
police for this strange and unaccount
able habit, and her trail has been camp
ed upon by several detectives. Posi-
tive evidence has been procured against
her which neither she nor her attorneys
could contradict with any show OF succ-
ess. Her case seemed to be one which
called for special attention, and conse
ouently petition was filed in the pro
bate court Yesterday by Detective Mann
ing, setting up that Mrs. Trumbull is
insane and asking for her admission to
the Pontiac insane asylum. 1t is the
most charitable construction OF Mrs.
Trumbull's mania, and was suggested
to the probate court out of sympathy
for her.
The case came before Judge Durfee.
and he resolved to order hearing IN
the case forthwith. Accordingly at 3
o'clock Mrs. Trumbull, a mildeyed and
disconsolate looking woman, shabbily
dressed, accompanied by her husband.
as poorly dressed as herself, appeared
in the probate court.
The last act of the unfortunate woman
was 10 be caught in the act of purlion'
ing goods from the establishments
TAYLOR, Wolfenden & Co. on Wednesday
Lasts Frank ID. Taylor was the first
witness called in the matter yesterday
by Judge Durfee. In making his state
mept Mr.. TAYLOR said: "All the interest
l have in tho application here is to pro
tect myself and other business men from
this woman. If she is insane ask the
court to do nothing more than to com.
nit her to the asylum at Pontiac, and
feel sorry that she was not committed
long ago. If she is not insane. then she
ought to be prosecuted 10 the full ex'
tent of the law and placed behind the
bars. / understand that her mania has
brought her so prominently to the no
tice Of the police justice that he refuses
to take complaint against her, and II
the authorities believe she is insane
then l am bound to believe them.
Francis Downing Owen, the attorney
for Mrs. Trumbull, was considerably
exercised over her case. OF physician
who went on the stand to give his opin'
ion of Mrs. Trumbull's mental condition
Mr.. Owen inquired;
"Are you an expert on matters con-
corning the mental condition OF per-
sonsp"
81 am ."replied the physician.
"Are you called sop
mo, sir"
Have you any reputation as suchP'
II do not know"
would you. be surprised if you learn
ed that this conspiracy to seperate
husband and wifeP"
Eyes, sir, should be. certainly"
"What is Kleptomania doctorP' in
quired Mr.. Owen. casually.
ut is that form of insanity which
renders a person unable to resist the
temptation to steal"
IFS this woman kleptomaniacP'
asked Mr.. Owen severely.
"Yes," was the terse and decisive re
spouse.
Detective Manning was sworn in thu
| case, and he stated that several months
ago he was called to store to investi
L